Skate-runner support and method of making same



G. E. SCHMIDT March 18, 1930.

SKATE mmmm SUPPORT AND mmnon or- MAKING sun:

Filed Jan. 25, 1928 Patented Mar. 18, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GUSTAV E. SCHMIDT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS Application filed January 23, 1928.

My invention relates to ice skates and more particularly to a new construction of a light weight, yet very rugged, support for the runner.

My invention also relates to the method of making this construction.

One of the objects of my invention resides in providing an improved method and arrangement of forming the tubular support for the runner and connecting the runner thereto, which construction makes for simplicity of manufacture, strength, lightness and low manufacturing cost and assembly.

Still another object of my invention resides 16 in providing an improved method of construction of the character indicated wherein the runner is easily and ruggedly mounted in its tubuluar support, but may be quickly replaced without damaging the tubular support.

Yet another object of my invention resides in providing such a construction wherein the blades of the runners are firmly held and supported by means of a multitubular section and wherein the blades are held in position without riveting or spot welding, thereby avoiding the possibility of warping during assembly and in a manner such that the skate blades will be kept straight and true after they are once inserted andwill have no opportunity to bend because of the tubular portions on each side of the blade mounting, thereby forming a very firm or rigid socket for the blades or runner.

I Yet another object of my invention resides in providing a tubular construction of the character indicated and in the method of making the same wherein the tubular support is formed substantially fiat at the top to provide a firmer and broader seating surface on which the cups are mounted. p I

Yet another object of my invention resides in the process wherein the tubular support is formed from a sheet metal blank, and an ancillary method resides in the manner in which this blank is shaped at the toe and heel portions, not only to provide blunt ends for the skate but also to provide seats for holding the ends of the runner in position.

These and other objects will be apparent Serial No. 248,683.

from a perusal of the following specifications when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a side perspective view of one form of my improved skate;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view of the manner in which the end of the tubular support is pinched together to finish the same and hold the front edge of the runner;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the original blank from which the tubular support is made;

Fig. 5 is the next step in the method of making the tubular support;

Fig. 6 is a View showing the blank of Fig. 5 curled to provide the two tubes and intermediate socket and showing how the end of the blank is formed; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the clip which forms a part of the tubular socket and reinforces the tubular members.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, my improved skate comprises the usual toe and heel plates 2 and 3 to which are connected the toe and heel cups 4 and 6 and the toe brace 8, all of well known construction.

My present invention resides in the provision of an improved tubular support for receiving and holding the runner, which support is adapted firmly to be fastened to the cups 4 and 6 and the toe brace 8 as by soldering or welding or otherwise. My invention also includes the method of making the tubular support.

Referring now to the drawings, in the form illustrated in the present application the tubular support for the runner is formed preferably of sheet steel and in the manner illustrated in Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive.

In the process of making this support, I start with a sheet steel blank 10 of substantially rectangular shape, the same preferably comprising a relatively long strip from which a number of skate tubes may be cut. This blank 10 is bent laterally at its ends to providetwo longitudinal flanges 12 and 14 which are preferably turned at right angles. Either prior to or subsequent or simultaneously with the bending of these flanges 12 and 14, the blank is also cut to provide at each end a pair of ears 13 and 15 and an intermediate slot 17 which extends inwardly intermediate of the width of the blank at the end thereof. The blank shown in Fig. 5 is then curled as shown in Fig. 6 to form the two tubular portions 16 and 18, the two flanges 12 and 14 being innnermost and spaced apart as at 20 the thickness of the runner 22 of the skate. During this curling operation or subsequent thereto the two flanges l3 and 15 are brought together by means of dies into the position shown in Fig. 6 so as to form the end of the blank as a substantially blunt point with a longitudinally extending crevice or slot intermediate the width of the end of the blank. This runner makes a snug fit between the two inturned flanges 12 and 14.

I also provide a preferably sheet metal clip 24 having an intermediate flat portion 26 and two flanges 28 and 30. This clip is relatively long and substantially U-shaped in cross section. The clip is inserted in position as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings so that its flat intermediate portion 26 lies between the ends 32 and 34 of the flanges 12 and 14 and the opposite wall 10 of the blank. The flanges 28 and 30 overlie and snugly contact with the adjacent faces of the flanges 12 and 14. This clip is inserted into position prior to the pinching or pressing together of the ends of the blank so that when the blank is ultimately formed it is provided with a longitudinally extending, relatively deep socket, the walls of which comprise the flanges 12 and 14 and the overlying enclosin flanges 28 and 30 of the clip 26 and the tubular portions 46 and 48 lying on each side of the socket and strongly reinforcing it. In addition it is pointed out that the rear face of the clip 26 receives the abutting ends of the flanges 32 and 34 and in turn abuts the rear walls 10 of the tubular blank, and when the skate runner 22 is seated it in turn snugly lies in firm contacting relation with the rear of the wall of the clip and against the inner oppositely disposed walls of the flanges 12 and 14. Furthermore by reason of the relative depth of this clip it will be seen that the skate runner is provided with a very rugged, yet light, reinforcing construction for a good portion of the depth of the runner and on each side thereof.

By reason of the foregoing construction it will be noted that the socket is of rigid construction since the runner from its ex.- treme inner or hidden end to the point where it projects from the tubular support is backed by a thickness of sheet metal on each side corresponding to the flanges 12 and 14 and also by the inturned flanges 28 and of the clip 26 which in the present modification constitutes an improved manner of rigid ly holding these flanges 12 and 14 in interlocked relation with each other and with the skate runner and rear wall of the tubular support.

hen the skate runner is inserted in its longitudinal socket in the tubular support, the front of the support having been given a slight up-bend to correspond with the front curve of the runner, the toe of the runner is then seated in the slot 17 of the pinched together ends of the blank and the heel of the runner is inserted in the smaller slot at the rear end of the tubular blank and the runner is soldered in position. The skate blank is then finished in the usual manner for final use.

It will also be appreciated that by reason of this method of construction that the runner is firmly clamped in position in a manner such that it is held mounted much more Strongly than any known construction heretofore employed. My present construction is from ten to fifteen times stronger than prior constructions.

It will also be appreciated that by reason of the substantially flat portion 10 of the tubular support I am able to more firmly attach the toe and heel plate cups 4 and 6 and the toe brace 8 to the tubular support 10.

Another important advantage of my present method of construction resides in the man ner and simplicity in which the runner may be attached to its tubular support, it being merely necessary to insert the runner into the preformed side of the tubular walls of the socket and to solder it in such position. It will also be apparent that by reason of this soldering attachment and due to the fact that the socket is very firm and rigid, the runner is not subjected to strain and warping actions which tend to throw the runner out of true form. Furthermore the runners and blades will be maintained straight and true after they are once inserted since due to the rigidity of the mounting and particularly the tubular portions 46 and 48, the a runner has no opportunity to bend.

In conclusion it will be seen that my present construction affords pronounced lightness in weight while at the same time insures such a rigid backing and connection between the support and the runner as to prevent the runner from being twisted or turned from its socket or warped or pulled out of true even under the most severe conditions.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an ice skate, the combination of a tubular support carrying the usual foot and toe plate cups, said support being formed of sheet metal and constructed and arranged to provide a longitudinal socket having tubular members arranged in covering relation on each side thereof and a skate runner mounted in said socket.

2. In combination, a tubular support for an ice skate runner, said support being formed of sheet metal bent to provide two tubular members and an intermediate socket within said tubular members adapted to receive the runner therebetween.

3. In combination, a tubular support and an ice skate runner, said support consisting of a sheet metal blank formed to provide two tubular portions spaced apart by two flanges providing an intermediate socket within said tubular portions, said runner snugly fitting in said socket.

4. In combination, a tubular support for an ice skate runner, said support including a pair of spaced apart tubes formed therein, and a socket extending longitudinally of the support and within said spaced apart tubes and a runner mounted in said socket.

5. In combination, a tubular support for ice skate runners comprising a blank of sheet metal bent to provide two longitudinally extending tubular portions terminating in spaced apart inwardly extending flanges adapted to receive a skate runner therebetween.

6. In combination, a tubular support for ice skate runners comprising a blank of sheet metal bent to provide two longitudinally extending tubular portions terminating in spaced apart inwardly extending flanges adapted to receive a skate runner therebetween, and a sheet metal clip lying between the innermost ends of said flanges and the opposite wall of the blank, said clip having flanged portions overlying the flanges of said blank thereof to form a rigid socket, and a skate runner mounted in said socket.

7. In combination, a tubular support for ice skate runners comprising a blank of sheet metal bent to provide two longitudinally extending tubular portions terminating in spaced apart inwardly extending flanges adapted to receive a skate runner therebetween, and a sheet metal clip lying between the innermost ends of said flanges and the opposite wall of the blank, said clip having flanged portions overlying the flanges of said blank thereof to form a rigid socket, and a skate runner mounted in said socket, said runner being soldered in position in said socket.

8. In an ice skate, the combination of a foot plate, a tubular support connected thereto, said tubular support being formedpf sheet metal and folded upwardly to provide spaced portions forming a socket and a runner mounted therein and soldered in position.

9. An ice skate construction composed of a relatively long unitary blank of sheet metal folded to provide a plurality of tubes spaced apart to form a socket, the opposite ends of said tubes being pinched together to form the front and back of said tubular support, said pinched together portions being formed with slots, and a skate runner seated between said tubes with the front and back portions of the runner inserted in said slots.

10; In an ice skate, the combination of a tubular support composed of sheet metal folded to provide a plurality of tubes and an intermediate socket and a sheet metal clip forming a backing for said socket and lying within the interior of the said folded sheet metal blank.

11. The method of forming a tubular support for an ice skate runner which comprises folding a unitary sheet metal blank on itself to provide spaced flanges and curling the intermediate portions of said blank to form a pair of tubes with the inturned blanks eX- tending at right angles to the adjacent curled port-ion and lying parallel with each other in spaced apart relation to provide a socket for the runner, and inserting a U- shaped clip with the flanges of the clip overlying the parallel flanges of the blank.

12. The method of forming a tubular sup port for an ice skate runner which comprises folding a sheet metal blank on itself to provide spaced flanges and curling the intermediate portions of said blank to form a pair of tubes with the inturned blanks extending at right angles to the adjacent curled portion and lying parallel with each other in spaced apart relation to provide a socket for the runner, and inserting a U-shaped clip with the, flanges of the clip overlying the parallel flanges of the blank, pinching the opposite ends of the blank together to form the toe and rear portion of the support.

13. The herein described method of forming a tubular support for an ice skate runner which consists in bending a relatively long strip of sheet metal upon itself to provide spaced apart tubes, the inner edges of said tubes being bent to provide parallel flanges spaced apart forming a runner socket.

14. A tubular support for an ice skate comprising a sheet of metalfolded upon itself to provide a substantially flat, longitudinally extending intermediate portion, and laterally extending spaced apart curls forming tubular portions, the inner ends of said curls being arranged in parallelism and spaced apart and re-eutrantly arranged to approach the substantially flat portion whereby to provide a relatively deep socket having parallel Walls, and means to reinforce said parallel walls and hold them in parallelism.

15. A tubular support for an ice skate comprising a sheet of metal folded upon itself to provide a substantially flat, longitudinally extending intermediate portion, and laterally extending spaced apart curls forming tubular portions, the inner ends of said curls being arranged in parallelism and spaced apart and re-entrantly arranged to approach the substantially flat portion whereby to provide a relatively deep socket having parallel walls, and means to reinforce said parallel walls and hold them in parallelism, said means comprising a sheet metal clip overlying said parallel walls, a portion of said clip lying between said parallel walls and the flat U portion of the support.

16. An ice skate having a runner support of tubular construction and formed with a re-entrantly disposed longitudinal pocket is and a runner mounted therein.

17. An ice skate having a tubular support formed of an integral blank of sheet metal bent to provide two spaced apart tubular portions with the walls thereof forming an intermediate longitudinal extending pocket and a skate runner mounted in said pocket.

18. An ice skate having atubular support formed of an integral piece of sheet metal comprising a tubular portion with the ends of the sheet metal extending into the tubular portion to provide an inwardly extending pocket and a skate runner soldered within said pocket.

19. An ice skate having a tubular support formed with a longitudinally arranged pocket extending into said tubular support, the ends of said support being slotted in line with the pocket, and a skate runner mounted in said pocket with ends of the skate lying in the slots.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

GUSTAV E. SCHMIDT. 

